Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $37,380 +2.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.97
10th percentile $29,970
90th percentile $44,080
Employed locally 1,550
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Grand Rapids, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,970
    25th
    $34,450
    50th (median)
    $37,380
    75th
    $39,310
    90th
    $44,080

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 53% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $43,200
    Minnesota $42,180
    Ann Arbor, MI $40,330
    Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $40,150
    Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $39,360
    Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $39,220

    Related occupations in Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,020
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,260
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,950
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,190
    Bartenders $46,470
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $27,810

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Grand Rapids?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Grand Rapids, MI is $17.97, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.97 or more per hour.

    Is Grand Rapids above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 2.6% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $29,970 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,450.